BOARD MEETING DATE: April 4, 2008
AGENDA NO. 28

REPORT:

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on March 21, 2008. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the April Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on April 25, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance:

Committee Chair Roy Wilson and, attending after Item 4 below, Committee Member Miguel Pulido participated by video-teleconference.

Chair Roy Wilson, who was the only Committee Member attending, added this urgency item to the agenda: The item came to staff’s attention since the posting of the agenda because staff just recently witnessed more favorable testing on the electric tow tractor than anticipated. Immediate action is needed because the Ports are considering purchasing 20 electric yard hostlers and staff believe AQMD should remain involved in this project. Commitments from AQMD and Port of Los Angeles for this purchase will enable Balqon to secure venture capital funding.

Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate Electric Yard Hostler - In December 2006, the Board awarded a contract to cosponsor with the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) the development and demonstration of an electric tow tractor for container movement within and around the Port. While the in-field testing is ongoing for on-road duty-cycles, the initial design verification testing has shown that the prototype tow tractor will likely meet and exceed the duty-cycle requirements for a yard hostler application. The POLA plans to place an order for 20 similar yard hostlers as a part of a planned Green Terminal program. The AQMD would like to join this effort to develop and demonstrate an additional yard hostler to use in a loan program for additional cargo handling entities to experience an electric yard hostler in actual operations. This action is to execute a contract with Balqon Corporation to develop and demonstrate an electric yard hostler at a cost not to exceed $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.
 

APRIL BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Approve Resolution Authorizing Executive Officer to Enter into a Grant Agreement with CARB for Proposition 1B Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program - In November 2006, voters approved $1 billion in bond funding under Proposition 1B to implement programs that reduce emissions from the movement of freight or “goods” along California’s trade corridors. In February 2008, CARB’s Board approved the Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program under Proposition 1B and awarded $25 million out of $250 million budgeted in Fiscal Year 2007-08 for “Early Grant” projects. The remaining $225 million will be awarded in May 2008 after CARB has reviewed applications from local public agencies that are due by April 4, 2008. As required by the program’s guideline, a resolution must be approved by the Board authorizing the AQMD to enter into a grant agreement with CARB, accept funds, and provide any matching funds under the fiduciary control of the AQMD.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

2. Execute Contract to Demonstrate NOx and PM Emissions Control on Construction Equipment - Diesel-powered construction equipment emit significant amounts of NOx and PM into the South Coast Air Basin. In July 2007, CARB enacted a regulation to reduce NOx and PM emissions from construction equipment, including the Surplus Off-Road Opt-in for NOx (SOON) Program to realize additional NOx reductions by 2014. The success of the SOON Program will be partly dependent on the availability of verified diesel control technologies for off-road engines. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology combined with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) has been shown to reduce NOx and PM emissions from on-road vehicles. This action is to execute a contract with ServoTech Engineering to design, install, quantify emissions of, and further demonstrate an SCR and DPF control system on at least three heavy-duty construction equipment engines at a cost not to exceed $320,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total cost of the proposed project is $990,420 and ServoTech Engineering and the Los Angeles County Sanitation District will provide $670,420 of in-kind support.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

3. California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Report and Quarterly Activity Report, Renew AQMD’s Membership in CaFCP for Calendar Year 2008, and Provide Office Space for CaFCP - The AQMD has been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) since March 17, 2000. This action is to renew AQMD’s membership in the CaFCP in an amount not to exceed $87,800 for calendar year 2008 and co-fund 50 percent of the CaFCP Regional Coordinator position located at the AQMD, in addition to office space and utilities, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Further actions are to continue providing in-kind office space and utilities for two additional CaFCP employees in 2008 in an effort to educate the public and increase CaFCP’s presence in Southern California.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

4. Issue Fleet Modernization Program Announcement for “Year 9” Carl Moyer Program and Adopt Resolution Recognizing Carl Moyer Program “Year 10” Funds - Pre-1990 heavy-duty diesel trucks are high-polluting vehicles that contribute significantly to the South Coast Air Basin’s NOx, PM10, and VOC emissions. Pre-1990 trucks can emit three times as much NOx and over 40 times as much particulates as trucks meeting the current on-road heavy-duty engine exhaust emissions standards. The Carl Moyer Program includes a heavy-duty on-road truck fleet modernization category under which incentive funds are provided to truck owners/operators to replace pre-1990 vehicles with newer, cleaner vehicles. This action is to: 1) issue a Program Announcement to solicit projects to replace pre-1990 diesel trucks with Model Year 2007 or newer diesel or natural gas-fueled trucks at a cost not to exceed $6 million based on the AQMD’s Fleet Modernization Plan approved by CARB; and 2) adopt a resolution recognizing Carl Moyer Program “Year 10” Funds. The Board has set aside $6 million from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account for Fleet Modernization.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

5. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Pilot Program to Assess Feasibility of Enhancing Smog Check Tests in South Coast Air Basin - Currently, PM emissions are not measured as part of the biennial Smog Check Program. In addition, all-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles are exempted from loaded mode testing for purposes of measuring NOx emissions. Maschinenbau Haldenwang (MAHA) has proposed to cost-share with the AQMD, four portable particulate measuring devices and one all-wheel/4-wheel drive dynamometer at CARB’s El Monte laboratory and at AQMD’s High Emitter Repair or Scrap (HEROS) Program test sites. Data obtained from the proposed equipment will be used to evaluate the potential for broadening the scope of current Smog Check testing and facilitate the development of a uniform methodology that could be implemented in the Smog Check Program. This action is to execute a contract with MAHA to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $99,423 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The remainder of the $373,847 project costs will be supported by the other project partners: CARB, the Foundation for California Community Colleges, and MAHA.

Discussion: Based on concerns by Mayor Pulido and Roy Wilson the following paragraph was added to the Proposal section of the board letter.

The device is designed to be relatively easy to operate and maintain, with an estimated current cost of about $15,000 per unit. This cost could be lowered with volume pricing. The Bureau of Automotive Repair is in the initial stages of developing specifications of a new analyzer system for 2010, this technology to measure PM could potentially be incorporated into the design of a new 2010 analyzer.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Members present communicated their concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

6. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Remote Sensing Measurements of Emissions from On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle - Heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV) are significant contributors to the Basin’s on-road vehicle emission inventory. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is seeking to conduct a study to examine how HDDV emissions are impacted by changing fleet regulations and new HDDV emission standards over the next few years. The proposed study is expected to obtain a database of on-road emissions from HDDV operating from 2008 through 2012. Field measurements are to be conducted at two locations in the Basin using one research remote sensing device (RSD) operated by the University of Denver in parallel to one commercial RSD operated by Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. The total cost for this project is estimated to be $360,082. This action is to execute contracts with the University of Denver and Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $199,041 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated their concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

7. BMW Hydrogen 7 Vehicle Demonstration - Loaning the District a vehicle for a month. (presentation only)
Discussion on liquid hydrogen refueling and testing in high temperature climates. Vehicle has a GPS device that shows the amount of hydrogen and the location. BMW CleanEnergy liaison will pick up the vehicle and refuel when necessary.
 

OTHER BUSINESS - There was no other business.
 

Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A – Attendance

Bob Ulloa, Board Assistant AQMD
Brett Franklin, Board Assistant video-teleconference
Barbara Baird, Principal Deputy District Counsel AQMD
Sam Atwood, Media Manager AQMD
Henry Hogo, S&TA AQMD
Matt Miyasato, S&TA AQMD
Fred Minassian, S&TA AQMD
Dean Saito, S&TA AQMD
Lisa Mirisola, S&TA AQMD
Larry Watkins, S&TA AQMD
Brian Choe, S&TA AQMD
Frank Motavassel, S&TA AQMD
Adewale Oshinuga, S&TA AQMD
Lori Berard, S&TA AQMD
Dave Coel, S&TA AQMD
Penny Cedillo, S&TA AQMD
Donna Vernon, S&TA AQMD
Laura Garrett, IM AQMD
Roy Kim CaFCP
James Ryan BMW, Clean Energy
Marcus Wiesebrogg BMW, Clean Energy